Electric-switch apparatus.



J. ETCHELLS. ELECTRIC SWITCH APPARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.8. I914.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

2 SHEET$SHET 1.

J. ETCHELLS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1914.

1,200,930. Patented 001;. 10,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JAMES ETCHELLS, F BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND,ASSICNOR- TO ELECTRIC AND ORDNANCE ACCESSORIES COMPANY, IIIMITED, OFBIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC-SWITCH APPARATUS.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES EToHELLs, asubject of the King of G reat Britain, re-

siding at Cheston Road, Aston, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick,England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric-Switch Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto electric switch apparatus for use especially inthe control of train lighting and heating circuits, of the'type in whicha circuit closing plunger or core is actuated by a solenoid and is heldby a catch opened or released by means of an electromagnet or by hand.

According to the present invention the plunger catch is retained in itsoperative position by the weight of the plunger and the electromagnetserving for the withdrawal of the plunger catch is excited momentarilythrough a master switch which also serves for the simultaneousexcitation of the solenoid, so that the plunger may be momentarilyraised from the catch for releasing purposes. To provide for half andfull light effects two solenoids with their plungers and electromagneticcatches may be employed, one pole of the current supply being connectedto a point between the two solenoids while the other ,pole may beconnected at will through the master switch to either one or both of twopoints so arranged as to group the solenoids and electromagnets in twoor more different circuits operating the plungers according to theresult desired.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into efiect we will describe the same more fully with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which a Figure 1 is a front elevation,and Fig. 2 a side elevation of a single circuit magnetic switchconstructed in accordance with our fications of the two circuit magneticswitch.

Like letters of reference indicate similar parts in the various figures.

Referring first more particularly to Figs.

Specification of Jiietters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Application filed September 8, 1914. Serial No. 860,577.

1 and 2, A is the solenoid and B its plunger; C 1s the bridge contactcarried at the upper end thereof and adapted to close the main contactsD D whose terminals G G are in the circuit containing the lamps andsource of current supply which in the example shown is a battery. E isthe armature of the electro-magnet F, said armaturebeing hinged at e andin its uninfluenced condition by the electromagnet F lying, under theaction of gravity, in a position to serve as a catch for engaging with ashoulder b on the solenoid plunger and supporting'the latter in itsraised or main contact closing position. The winding of theelectro-magnet F is connected at one end to the winding of the solenoidA and at the other end to a terminal J connected with the stationarycontact Z forming part of a master. switch L. which is situated in thecircuit between the positive pole of the battery and the ter- "minal G.The winding of the solenoid is which normally rests upon a fixed stop ,mv

in order to limit the extent of its downward movement. By lifting thissleeve or collar by hand, it will operate to move thearmature or catch Etoward the electro-magnet F so as to disengage it from the shoulder 12of the plunger B and permit said plunger when uninfiuenced by thecurrent in the winding of the solenoid to fall by the action ofgravityand open the main contacts D D. The sleeve can readilv force the catchfrom under the shoulder b as the action is a wedging one against theslightly sloping face of the catch. The lower end or stem 6 of theplunger projects through and beyond the lower end of the sleeve orcollar M so that it can be readily lifted when required to raise theplunger to close the main contacts D D by hand.

With the switch in the open position represented by Figs. 1 and 2, ifthe terminal H be momentarily connected to the positive. I

-,pole of the batteryby the movement of the master switch L, the windingof the solenoid A will be energized whereby the .plunger B will belifted and the main contacts D D closed and kept closed by" the catch Eengaging with the plunger. then flow through the lamp circuit from thesaid battery. H To open the switch electrically, the terminal J ismomentarily connected by the master switch L to the positive pole of thebattery, whereupon both the winding of the solenoid A and the winding ofthe electro-magnet F will be energized, the former raising the plunger Bso that its weight is removed from the catch E and enabling theelectro-magnet F to disengage the said catch from the plunger, with theresult that on the cessation of the momentary current, the plunger willfall and open the switch, thus cutting oil the supply of current to thelamps. The fall of the plunger on the cessation of curent through thesolenoid is too rapid to permit of reengagement of the catch. The weightof the plunger on the catch eflectivelyretains the-latter so as toprevent accidental disengagement by vibration or excitation of theelectromagnet alone.

In order to close the switch by hand, the plunger is lifted by themovement of its stem 6 through the sleeve. M without-actuating thelatter, until the catch falls into engagement with the shoulder "b on Kthe plunger by theaction of gravity. To open 7 the switch by hand thecollar M is moved upwardly along the stem 6 thereby bringing its flangeagainst the catch and disengaging it from the plunger, whereupon thelatter descends through .the collar Mby the action of gravity. 9 0nreleasing the collar it drops into its normal position and rests uponthe stop m.

Fig. 3 illustrates the tWo circuit form of the switch for obtaining fulland half light effects and comprises essentially the combination of twoof the single circuit switches placed side by side. A A are the windingsof the two solenoids and B B are their plungers. D D are one pair ofmain contacts and 1) D are the other pair. The contact D is connected tothe terminal G leading to the half light circuit and the contact D isconnected to the terminal G leading to the full light circuit. The maincontacts D D are connected together and are also connected to.theterminal 0 form ing partof the circuit leading from the positivepole of the battery and the master switchL. The main contact D is alsoconnected electrically with the movable contact C of the solenoidplunger B. so that when the plunger B is raised .to close the maincontacts D D half lights are on and when the plunger B is raised toclose the main contacts D D full lights are on, irrespective of theposition of the plunger B. The upper ends of'the solenoid windings areconnected together and to the terminal K Current will closes the halflight circuit.

leading to the negative pole of the battery and the other ends of thesaid windings are connected respectively to the windings ot' the catchactuating electro-magnets F F, that is to say the winding of solenoid Ais connected to the electro-magnet F of the solenoid A, and the windingof solenoid A is connected to the electro-magnet F of the solenoid A.The tree ends of the windings of the electro-magnets F F are connectedrespectively to the terminals H and J. The terminal H is connected tothe fixed contact Z of the master switch L and the terminal J to thefixed contact Z thereof. By connecting the terminal J momentarily to thepositive main by themaster switch the windings of the solenoid A andelectromagnet F are energized. The plunger .13 therefore rises and byclosing the main contacts D D The wind-- ing of'solenoid A not beingenergized at this t'me, the catch E is not disengaged, if the 'ull lightcircuit has been previously closed, so that whether the plunger B be upor down itremains unaffected owing to the weight of the plunger Bresting thereon. By connecting the terminal H momentarily to thepositive main by the master switch, the windings of the solenoid A andthe electro-magnet F are energized. The plunger B therefore rises andcloses the full light circuit, the plunger B remaining unaffected byresting upon the catch E and preventing the latter frombeing'disengaged. To switch off, current is momentarily supplied to theterminals .H and J simultaneously by the master switch thus energizingall four windings oi. the solenoids and electr o-magnets whereupon thewindings A and A remove the weight of the plungers B and B from thecatches E and E thereby allowing the latter to be operated by theelectro-magn'ets; F and F so that on the cessation of current throughthe master switch the plungers B and B both drop and both pairs of themain contacts are opened. The hand operation of the switches is effectedin a similar manner to that already described with reference to thesingle circuit switch shown by Figs. 1 and 2. This two circuit switch-issuitable for working in conjunction with any appropriate design ofmaster switch that will enable either or both of two leads to be madealive momentarily at will. In-the modified form of the two circuitswitch shown diagrammatically by Fig. 4 the windings of the solenoids Aand A and of the electro-magnets F and F are all connected together toform a closed circuit, the current main being led to a point between thesolenoid windings A and A while the 'minal H to the positive main bymeans of catch is not attracted, the plunger B is thus,

retained in the raised position, hence by connecting the terminal H tothe source of current the plunger B is raised and the plunger B is,dropped. Similarly, if the terminal J be connected momentarily by themaster switch to the positive'main, the plunger B is raised, and theplunger B is dropped. If

however, both the terminals H and. J be connected to the positive mainby the master switch the solenoid windings A and A and half of each ofthe windings of the electromagnets F and F are energized, whereby bothplungers are raised and drop again, one half of the windings of theelectro-magnets F and F being made sufficiently strong to attract thecatch.

lVe have illustrated in Fig. 5 a modification in which the contacts areso arranged as to enable the switch to be operated from full to halflights without first switching the lights all out as is necessary withthe arrangement shown by Fig. 3.-

The circuit connections in this modification are similar-to those shownin Fig. 3. By connecting the terminal J momentarily to the positive mainby the master switch the windings of the solenoid A and theelectromagnet F are energized. The plunger B therefore rises and opensthe contacts D D so that no lights are on, it being assumed of coursethat the plunger B is in its down position and that the contacts D D areopen. By momentarily supplying current to the terminals H and Jsimultaneously by the master switch all four coils are energizedwhereupon the windings A and A remove the weight of the plungers B and Bfrom the catches E and E thereby allowing'the latter to be operated bythe electro-magnets F and F so that on the cessation of currentbothplungers drop with the result that the contacts D D are closed andthe contacts D D are opened and half lights are on. By connecting theterminal H momentarily to the positive main by means of the masterswitch the windings of the solenoid A and the electro-magnet F areenergized, whereupon the plunger B rises and closes the contacts D D sothat full lights are on.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative method of connecting the solenoids andelectromagnets for use-with the contacts arranged as shown in Fig. 5 sothat the switch can be operated from full to half lights without firstswitching the lights all out as in the previous arrangement. In thiscase either one or both of the electro-magnets F F is or are actuatedaccording to the position of the master switch but in any case both thesolenoids A and A are'energized. Hence to obtain full lights theterminalH is momentarily connected to the positive main and theelectro-magnet F and both thei solenoids A A are energized with theresult that both the glungers B B rise, the latter in its up position bythe.

being retaine I catch E" and thereby closing the. contacts D 'D and theformer being allowed to fall owing to the. catch E being held out of itsengaging position by the electromagnet F and thereby closing thecontacts D D so that full lights are on. By momentarily connecting boththe terminals H and J to the positive main by the master switch all fourcoils are energized with the result that the plungers B and B rise andfall again, the ftrmer closing the contacts D D and the-latter openingthe contacts D D so that half lights are on. By momentarily connectingthe terminal J to the positive main by the master switch theelectro-magnets F and both the solenoids A A are energized; the plungerB therefore rises and is retained in the raised position by the catch'E,thus opening the contacts D D and the plunger B is allowed to drop owingto the catch E being held out of engagement, thus opening the contacts DD so that no lights are on. e

What I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United Statesis 1. In electric switch apparatus for circuit control,'a solenoid, amain circuit closing plunger raised. against gravity by the solenoid, aplunger catch adapted to be retained by the plunger, an electromagnetfor withdrawing the catch on release by the plunger, .three terminalstwo of which are connected to the solenoid and the third .to theelectromagnet, a master switch having two contacts connectedrespectively to the electromagnet terminal and to one of the solenoidterminals, a source of current connected to the second solenoid terminaland to the arm of the master switch, and electrical connections adaptedto give, through the master switch, simultaneous excitation of both thesolenoid and the electromagnet for the release of the said plunger.

2. In electric switch apparatus for circuit control, two solenoidselectrically connected together, two gravity controlled plungers in thesaid solenoids closing different sections of the main circuit, twoplunger catches each adapted to be retained by its plunger, two catchwithdrawing electrormagnets each connected in series. with one of thesaid solenoids and adapted to withdraw the catch on release by theplunger, a source of current connected at one pole to a point betweenthe said solenoids, a master switch adapted momentarily to connect theother pole to either or both of the sole oids and the electromagnetcoils, and electrical connections adapted to give, through the masterswitch, simultaneous excitation 01' either solenoid and its own catchelectromagnet for the release of the corresponding plunger.

3. In electric switch apparatus for circuit c control, two solenoidselectrically connected together, two graxity controlled plungers in thesaid solenoids closing different sections of the main circuit, twoplunger catches each adapted to be retained by its plunger, two catchwithdrawing electromagnets each connected in series with one of the saidsolenoids and adapted to withdraw the catch on release by the plunger, asource of current connected at one pole to a point be tween the saidsolenoids, a master switch adapted momentarily to connect the other poleto the middle of either one or both of the electromagnet coils, andelectrical connections adapted to give, through the master switch,simultaneous excitation of either solenoid and its own catchelectromagnet for the release of the corresponding plunger.

4. In electric switch apparatus for circuit control, two solenoidselectrically connected together, two gravity controlled plungers in thesaid solenoids closing different sec-' tions of the main circuit, twoplunger catches each adapted tobe retained by its plunger, two catchwithdrawing electromagnets each connected in series with the oppositesolenoid and adapted to withdraw the catch on release by the plunger, asource of current connected at one pole to a point between the saidsolenoids, a master switch adapted momentarily to connect the other poleto either or both of the electromagnet coils, and electrical connectionsadapted to give, through the master switch, simultaneous excitation ofeither solenoid and its own catch electromagnet for the release of thecorresponding plunger.

5. In electric switch apparatus for circuit control, two gravitycontrolled plungers' moving in opposite directions to close difl'erentsections of the main circuit, two solenoids operating the plungers, twoplunger catches each adapted to be retained by its plunger, two catchwithdrawing electromagnets each connected in series with one of the saidsolenoids and adapted to withdraw the catch on-release by the plunger, asource of current connected at one pole to a point between the twosolenoids, a master switch adapted momentarily to connect the other poleto either or both of the electromagnet coils, and electrical connectionsadapted to give, through the master switch, simultaneous excitation ofeither solenoid and its own catch electromagnet for the release of thecorresponding plunger.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES ETCHELLS. WVitnesses T. O. BRIscoE, W. H. PARKEs.

